Game



March 9, 1943. P. w. WHITE GAME Filed Feb. 2.4. 1941 Patented Mar. 9,1943 GAME Paul W; White, Waterbury, Conn, assignor to Parva ProductsCompany,

porationof Delaware Chicago, 111., a cor- ApplicationFebruary 24, 1941,Serial No. 380,201 13 Claims. (Cl. 273-30) This invention relates to agame and has special reference to a game adapted to be played indoors inrelatively confined quarters on a game table, the game being based onthe rules of table tennis.

More particularly, this invention relates to the combination with a gametable having a substantially horizontally extending playing surface anda net extending transversely thereof defining fields of play forsimultaneous competition between a plurality of players using a singleball, of an upright deflector wall extending lengthwise of a table onopposed sides thereof, the defiector walls extending at least a majorportion of the length of the table substantially equally on each side ofthe transversely extending net.

The structural features of the present inven tion add to the. usualtable tennis game, deflecting walls which may be substantiallyuniversally adjustable. In the usual table tennis game a ball is battedover a transversely extending net on a game table by one or more playersat each end of the table. The ball, to be in play, must be served upon afield of play on one side of the net and the player on that side of thetable must bat the ball before the ball is permitted to bounce a secondtime, the ball being returned over the net onto the opposite playingfield. All of the services and returns played are straight over-the-netpasses with the only diversion being in the speed and placement of thepasses on the playing fields and in developing spin of the ball.

The present invention contemplates the provision of means for adding tothe ordinary table tennis game additional plays requiring an unusualdegree of alertness and skill. Plays are created which are mostdeceptive and require fast reflexes to solve, due to the added playingsurfaces and to the various angularities thereof. Further, since thedeflecting walls are substantially universally adjustable the game maybe arranged with varying degrees of difficulty to suit it to the entirerange of players from the amateur to the expert. For example, thedeflecting walls may be at a substantial angle to the vertical so thatWhen the ball strikes the wall it takes a much higher rebound than whenthe angle of the wall is closer to the vertical. Therefore, when thedeflecting walls are in a vertical position the game is extremely fastbut the more the walls are angled away from the vertical the slower thegame becomes due to the difference in rebound the ball takes afterstriking thereagainst.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a game of thecharacter indicated above in which an unusual degree of alertness andskill must be employed and wherein the game may be arranged with varyingdegrees of difficulty to suit it to the entire range of players from theamateur to the expert.

Another object of this invention is to provide a game of the typehereinabove mentioned in which attachments of an inexpensive charactermay be easily and conveniently connected to game tables of presentcommercial form for the play of the game.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will hereinafter be moreparticularly pointed out and, for a more complete understanding of thecharacteristic features of this invention, reference may now be had tothe following description when taken together with the accompanyingdrawing, in which latter: I

Figure l is a perspective View of a game table incorporating thefeatures of this invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the line 2-2. ofFig. 1 showing a fragmentary portion of the table;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an end elevational view of a modified form of constructionembodying the. features. of this invention; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the upright deflector walls ofFig. 4.

Referring now to the drawing and more particularly to Figs. 1 to 3,inclusive, the game of this invention comprises a game table H1 having asubstantially horizontally extending playing surface and a net I iextending transversely thereof defining fields of play on veach side ofthe net. The game table is preferably the usual table on which tabletennis is played and the net H is likewise the net used in playing tabletennis; Such a table is generally approximately nine feet long and fivefeet wide.

In the usual play of the game table tennis one or two players occupypositions at each end of the table and bat; a ball across the net toeach other with a paddle or racket providing. simultaneous competitionbetween the players and using a single ball. The present inventionextends the playing surfaces in the provision of stiff upright deflectorwalls l2 and l3 which extend lengthwise of the table on opposed sidesthereof. In the so-called serving or returning of the ball the playermay use the surfaces of the deflector walls as playing surfaces as wellas the playing surface formed by the table top.

The service is developed by the server projecting or dropping the ballby hand only and striking the ball so that it touches first the playingfield on the side of the server and then bounces directly over the netto touch the playing field on the opposite side thereof either directlyor by contact with the deflector wall. In other words, the server maydirect the ball over the net or may bounce it against either of thedeflecting walls over the net onto the playing surface on the other sidethereof. The servers opponent may return the ball on the first bounce bystriking the ball against the deflector wall on either side so that itlands on the playing field of the server or may direct it straight overthe net onto that playing surface. It is quite apparent that a greatvariety of passes may be made in either direction in addition to thosethat are normally made by players playing the ordinary table tennisgame. It is possible to strike both deflecting walls in a single returnor service if the ball is placed accurately and is hit hard enough.

The deflecting walls may be formed of any material of suflicientrigidity to permit the ball to bounce thereon. In an inexpensiveattachment embodying the features of this invention, the deflecting wallmay beof a relatively heavy cardboard. In the more expensive sets thedeflecting walls may be formed of plywood, plastic or compositionmaterials or even plate glass. If stretched tight enough it might alsobe desirable to form a frame employing canvas, ordinary fabric, or evenpaper therein, For the present purpose, however, the deflecting wallsare formed of a single sheet of plywood which does not necessitate anyframe and, in order for the player to judge the angles of a shot that hemight make, the playing surface may be divided by lines M into smallsections.

In order to arrange the deflector walls to suit the entire range ofplayers so that varying degrees of difficulty may be obtained in thegame, the deflecting Walls may be made adjustable as to the angularitycf the playing surface thereof with respect to the playing surface ofthe table top. Also the height of the deflecting wall with respect tothe plane of the surface of the table top as well as the distancehorizontally from the edge of the table may be predetermined throughadjustment.

In order to accommodate the above adjustment 2. standard is provided oneach side of the table for supporting the deflector walls, there beingtwo such standards shown for each wall. Various standards may beemployed for accommodating vertical, horizontal and angular adjustment.However, for the purpose of illustration, each standard shown in thedrawing comprises a vertically extending leg 15 and a horizontally ex-?tending leg Hi, the legs being formed preferably of a single rod or tubeat substantially right angles to each other. The leg l6 of the standardslidably engages the underneath of the table, the leg extending througha bearing I! which latter is secured to the edge of the table. A rollerl8 may be provided on the end of the leg [5 to facilitate the horizontaladjustment of the standard, a fixed relation between the standard andthe table being obtained through the nut IE! which passes through thebearing l1 and frictionally engages the leg I6. When it is desired toadjust the standard horizontally with respect to the table ID, the nuti9 is loosened and the standard moved in or out to a desired positionwith the nut thereafter being tightened. Movement of the standard H inthis horizontal relation with the table spaces the deflector wall l2 toa desired degree from the edge of the table.

The deflector walls l2 are preferably removably mounted on the standardand are supported between arms 20 and 21. The arm 20 extends fromabearing 22 which latter is provided with an axial aperture through whichthe vertically extending leg I5 extends. The relation of the bearing 22to the leg I5 is fixed as by means of a bolt 23 extending through thebearing for frictional engagement with the leg. The arm 2! is supportedin a bearing 24 which latter is provided with a vertically extendingaperture for slidably receiving the vertically extending leg l5 and ahorizontal aperture through which the arm 2| extends in slidableengagement therewith.

Movement of the arm 2! in either direction will change the angularity ofthe playing surface of the deflector wall [2 with respect to the planeof the surface of the table top I0. Movement of the bearings 22 upwardlyor downwardly on the vertically extending leg 15 varies the verticallyspaced relation of the bottom edge of the deflector wall with respect tothe top of the table. Thus the deflector walls I2 and I3 are adjustablewith respect to the playing surface of the table top substantiallyuniversally. The deflector wall may be moved to adjust the space betweenit and the edge of the table in a horizontal relation, it may be movedvertically to adjust its spaced relation above the playing surface ofthe top of the table, and the angularity of the playing surface of thedeflector wall may be changed with respect to the plane of the playingsurface of the table top. The present attachment may, of course, be veryconveniently attached to or detached from any usual table tennis gameboard simply by the attachment of a bracket to the side edge thereof foreach of the standards.

Since it is desirable to space the deflector walls l2 and I3 verticallyand horizontally with respect to the longitudinal edges of the gameboard it is desirable that a net, fabric or other flexible member 25 besecured between the deflector wall and the table top to catch the ballswhich go out of play thereat. The net 25 may be detachably secured inany suitable manner to the longitudinal edges of the deflect-or wall andthe game board.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawing, thegame table 26 is of the usual type used for table tennis and is providedwith a transversely extending net 21 also usually employed when playingtable tennis. The deflector walls 28 and 29 are formed of a rigidcardboard, plastic, composition material, glass or the other variousmaterials mentioned above with respect to the first described embodimentof this invention and are supported in a substantially universallyadjustable relation with respect to the game table.

Instead of supporting the deflector walls 28 ing held in a predeterminedposition by nuts 36 which latter extend through the standards andfrictionally engage their respective rods.

A single standard has been shown for each deflector wall although, ofcourse, depending upon the length of the deflector wall, two. or morestandards may be employed. The deflector wall is secured to the upperend of the; rod extending, from the standards by a hinge construction 31which permits the angularity of the deflector Wall to be varied and heldin. a predetermined position by manually adjustable means such. asascrew and nut, The bottom edge of the deflector wall is provided witha. net or other flexible means 38 supported between. hook-shaped end.supports 39 (Fig. 5)- for the purpose of catching a. ball that isdeflected from the playing surfaces and is out. of play.

The deflector walls 28 and 29 may be raised or lowered to. adjust thebottom edges thereof in a desired spaced relation with respect to theplay ingsurface of the game table. The standards may be moved inwardlytoward the table or outwardlyaway therefrom in order to predetermine thehorizontal spacing between. the deflector walls and the edge of the gametable. The deflector walls may also be moved angularly with relation tothe plane of the playing surface of the game table so as to speed thegame or slow it down, depending upon the experience of the players. Ineither embodiment of this invention described above the length of thedeflector Walls is at least a major portion of the length of the gametable and, in proportion, the game table being approximately nine feet,for example, the length of the deflector walls should be between fourand onehalf and five feet.

While but two embodiments of this invention are herein shown anddescribed, it is to be understood that various modifications thereof maybe apparent to those skilled in the art without dcparting from thespirit and scope of this invention and, therefore, the same is only tobe limited by the scope of the prior art and the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The combination with a game table having a substantially horizontallyextending playing surface and a net extending transversely thereofdefining fields of play for simultaneous competition between a pluralityof players using a single bounding ball, of an upright stiff deflectorwall extending lengthwise of said table and having an edge thereofdisposed in a vertically and horizontally spaced relation from each ofthe opposed side edges thereof, and flexible means connecting the spacededges of said walls and said table.

2. The combination with a game table having a substantially horizontallyextending playing surface and a net extending transversely thereofdefining fields of play for simultaneous competition between a pluralityof players using a single bounding ball, of a stiff deflector wall ofsubstantially greater height than said net extending lengthwise of saidtable on opposed sides thereof to cause balls impinging thereon torebound, said deflector wall being adjustable angularly upwardly withrespect to the plane of the playing surface.

3. The combination with a same table having a substantially horizontallyextending playing surface and a net extending transversely thereofdefining fields of. play for simultaneous competition between aplurality of players using a single bounding ball, of a stiff deflectorwall of substantially greater height than said net extending lengthwiseof said table and being adjustable as to its spaced relation verticallyand horizontally from each of the opposed side edges thereof, saiddeflector wall being adjustable angular-1y upwardly with respect to theplane of the playing surface of said game table. 4

4. The combination with a game table having a substantially horizontallyextending playing surface and a net extending transversely thereofdefining fields of play for simultaneous competition between a pluralityof players using a single bounding ball, or a stiff deflector wallextending lengthwise of said table on opposed sides thereof, a standardon each side of said table for supporting said deflector walls, saidstandards being adjustable horizontally and vertically with respect 1side of said table for supporting said deflector walls, each of saidstandards comprising a horizontally extending leg for slidably engagingthe underneath of said table and a vertically extending leg forextension above the playing surface, and means between said deflectorwalls and said vertically extending leg for adjusting the degree. ofangularity between said Walls and the plane of said playing surface.

6. The combination with a game table having a substantially horizontallyextending playing surface and a net extending transversely thereof:defining fields of play for simultaneous competition between a pluralityof players using a single ball, of a deflector wall extending lengthwiseof said table on opposed sides thereof, a standard on each side of saidtable. for supporting said deflector walls, each of said standardscomprising a horizontally extending leg for slidably engaging theunderneath of said table for adjusting the space between said deflectorwalls and the sides of said table and a vertically extending leg forextension above the playing surface, and means adjustable horizontallyand vertically on said vertically extending leg for adjusting the spacebetween the bottom edge of said deflector walls and the playing surfaceand for adjusting the angularity therebetween.

'7. The combination with a game table having a substantiallyhorizontally extending playing surface and a net extending transverselythereof defining fields of play for simultaneous competition between aplurality of players using a single bounding ball, of a stifi deflectorwall of substantially greater height than said net extending lengthwiseof said table on opposed sides thereof, said deflector walls having astiffness comparable to the stiffness of the playing surface of saidtable and extending at least a major portion of the length of said tablesubstantially equally on each side of said transversely extending net,and means for detachably holding said deflector walls in a desiredadjusted relation with respect to said table.

8. The combination with a game table having a substantially horizontallyextending playing surface and a net extending transversely thereofdefining fields of play for simultaneous competition between a pluralityof players using a single bounding ball, of a stiff deflector wall ofsubstantially greater height than said net extendin lengthwise of saidtable on opposed sides thereof to cause rebound of balls impinging onsaid deflector Walls, and means supported by said table for holding saiddeflector walls in an adjustable spaced relation vertically, angularlyand horizontally with respect to the plane of said playing surface. s

9. The combination with a game table having a substantially horizontallyextending playing surface and a net extending transversely thereofdefining fields of play for simultaneous competition between a pluralityof players using a single bounding ball, of a stiff deflector wallextending lengthwise of said table on opposed sides thereof, a standardon each side of said table for supporting said deflector walls, saidstandards being adjustable horizontally and vertically with respect tosaid table for spacing said deflector walls therefrom, means on saidstandards for holding said deflector walls in desired positions ofangular adjustment with the plane of the playing surface of said table,and flexible ball retaining means extending substantially the length ofsaid deflector walls and spanning the space between each deflector walland the adjacent table edge while permitting said horizontal, verticaland angular adjustment of said deflector walls.

10. The combination with a game table having a substantiallyhorizontally extending playing surface and a net extending transverselythereof defining fields of play for simultaneous competition between aplurality of players using a single bounding ball, of upright stiffdeflector Walls of substantially greater height than said net extendinglengthwise of said table on opposed sides thereof for causing reboundingof balls impinging thereon, said deflector wall extending at least amajor portion of the length of said table substantially equally on eachside of said transversely extending net, and means supporting said wallsin spaced relation outwardly from the edges of said table.

11. The combination with a game table having a substantiallyhorizontally extending playing surface and a net extending transverselythereof defining fields of play for simultaneous competition between aplurality of players using a single bounding ball, of stiff deflectorwalls of substantially greater height than said net extending lengthwiseof said table on opposed sides thereof for causing rebounding of ballsimpinging thereon, and means supporting said deflector walls with thebottom edges thereof spaced in a vertical relation upwardly from saidplaying surface.

12. The combination with a game table having a substantiallyhorizontally extending playing surface and a net extending transverselythereof defining fields of play for simultaneous competition between aplurality of players using a single bounding ball, of upright stiffdeflector walls of substantially greater height than said net extendinglengthwise of said table, and means supporting said walls in ahorizontally outwardly spaced relation from each of the opposed sideedges of said table for causing balls impinging thereon to rebound.

13. The combination with a game table having a substantiallyhorizontally extending playing surface and a net extending transverselythereof defining fields of play for simultaneous competition between aplurality of players using a single bounding ball, of upright stiffdeflector walls forming additional playing surfaces extending lengthwiseof said table, and means supporting said walls in a horizontally spacedrelation outwardly from each of the opposed side edges of said tablewith the bottom edges of the walls spaced in a vertically spacedrelation upwardly from said horizontally extending playing surface, saiddeflector walls being of substantially greater height than said net. 7

PAUL W. WHITE.

